Chapter 170. Another Round of Aptitude Testing, Selena Meets with Trouble
The moment William stepped out of the palace in the Secret Realm, the old man took those few lists marked with suspicious points and turned toward the depths of the realm.
One by one, he sought out the children named on the lists and repeatedly verified them using Kadiya’s secret detection art. In the end, the results matched William’s conclusions exactly, without the slightest discrepancy.
Only with a few of those children could even he not determine the true depth of their potential, so he could only let the matter rest.
As long as most of the Aptitude results were correct...
With that thought in mind, the old man pinched the lists between his fingers and looked toward the place where William was staying. In the end, he said nothing and slipped back into the shadows.
Early the next morning, the old man once again brought William before the Teleportation Array.
With a flash of light, the two of them had returned to the plaza of the Kadiya Royal Palace.
William bowed to the old man, then turned and strode quickly toward his temporary residence, his mind still weighing the situation among the various kingdoms. He had to admit, a kingdom with truly deep reserves was indeed different.
The moment he stepped into the courtyard, he saw three familiar figures. Aganzo, along with two other Legendary Knights from Kroll, stood beneath the corridor with grim expressions.
“What happened?” William’s heart tightened, and he quickly strode forward.
Aganzo’s brows were drawn tight, and his voice carried suppressed fury.
“Your Highness, during the days you were in the Secret Realm, Consort Selena seemed to have been provoked by something. She suddenly launched a series of vicious retaliations against several Ducal families of Kadiya!”
“Retaliations?” William froze. “What did she do?”
“Last night, Duke Lancaster’s grain depot was burned down, Duke Black’s eldest son had his leg broken in a brothel, and the heirloom Duke Howard kept in his collection vanished overnight.”
Another Legendary Knight added in a heavy tone, “All the evidence points to Selena’s people. The entire Royal Capital is in an uproar now. Several Dukes have brought their private troops to petition outside the Royal Palace gates, demanding that His Majesty severely punish Selena.”
William’s expression darkened instantly.
Selena had always been calm. She would never do something so self-destructive without reason, unless... something had happened to her Maternal Clan?
“Where is she now?”
“His Majesty has temporarily ‘invited’ her to the Quiet Reflection Palace. They say it’s for her protection, but in truth it’s no different from house arrest.”
Grinding his teeth, Aganzo continued, “We tried to go in and see her, but Kadiya’s knights stopped us.”
William turned and headed straight for the palace gates, his eyes cold as ice.
“Take me to the Quiet Reflection Palace.”
However, the moment he reached the entrance of the Quiet Reflection Palace, he was blocked by two squads of Palace Knights.
The captain at their head stood there with his sword held crosswise, his tone firm.
“Your Highness William, by His Majesty’s order, no one is permitted to visit Princess Selena.”
A cold smile curled at William’s lips, and his gaze turned frigid. “Move aside.”
The knight captain did not budge. “I cannot obey.”
“Aganzo.”
William had no patience for nonsense and gave the order directly.
Aganzo tightened his grip on his sword hilt, and the pressure of a Legendary Knight instantly burst from his body. Just as he was about to move, a figure hurried over.
“Your Highness William, stop.”
Third Prince Frey came forward at a quick pace, still wearing that false smile on his face.
“What is Your Highness trying to do? Resorting to force is hardly the conduct expected of an honored guest.”
“What am I trying to do?”
William looked straight at him, his voice icy.
“I’m taking back my Consort.”
Frey shook his head and spread his hands.
“I’m afraid that won’t be possible. Selena is suspected of attacking our kingdom’s nobles. According to Kadiya law, she must stand trial. A trial takes time, so I ask Your Highness to remain patient.”
“Oh?” William raised a brow. “And how long, exactly, is this ‘time’ the Third Prince speaks of?”
Frey smiled, as though speaking of something too trivial to matter.
“Not long. Just six months. Once the trial is over, we will naturally return her to Your Highness. For now, please go back and rest.”
Six months? By the time the child was born, what they would probably send back was Selena’s corpse.
William smiled, but there was not a trace of warmth in that smile.
He slowly lifted a hand and pointed toward the palace gate.
“I’ll say it one more time. Move aside.”
The smile on Frey’s face faded.
“Is Your Highness trying to make an enemy of Kadiya?”
“I only want my woman.”
A sharp light flashed in William’s eyes, and he gave the order to Aganzo once again. “Do it.”
“Yes.”
Aganzo did not hesitate again. Legendary Sword Aura instantly gathered and slashed toward the knights blocking the way.
Though the Palace Knights resisted with all their strength, faced with such an overwhelming difference in power, they were steadily forced back. Cries of pain and the sound of shattered weapons rang out at once.
Frey’s expression changed drastically.
“William Kroll, how dare you!”
William did not even spare him a glance. He walked straight toward the Quiet Reflection Palace.
His steps were steady, and each one seemed to stamp down on Frey’s heart.
Just as Aganzo and the others were locked in battle with the Palace Knights, several powerful auras suddenly rose in the air before the Quiet Reflection Palace.
Seven figures with differing demeanors appeared out of thin air. The legendary pressure swirling around them was almost tangible, instantly blanketing the entire courtyard.
Aganzo and the other two Legendary Knights immediately drew back, standing back to back as they shielded William in the center. The collision between their auras and those of the others stirred up an invisible wave of force.
William, however, remained perfectly calm. He slowly drew two objects from his robes.
One was a Tree of Life Leaf glowing with a jade-green radiance. The other was a Dragon Scale.
A warm aura of life flowed from the leaf, while the Dragon Scale radiated an overbearing draconic might that looked down upon the world. Both tokens faintly emitted pressure at the level of Demigods, so overwhelming that even the air seemed to freeze.
Holding the tokens before his chest, he swept his gaze over the seven Kadiya Legends and spoke in an even tone, yet one filled with unquestionable intimidation.
“Do you want to test the wrath of two Demigods?”
The moment those seven Legends felt the pressure coming from the tokens, all of their expressions changed.
They could clearly sense that this power was far beyond anything they could resist. If they truly fought, they probably would not even know how they died.
The Legendary Knight at their head had flickering eyes, and the hand gripping his sword slowly loosened.
The others behind him exchanged uneasy looks, and the momentum in their bearing visibly weakened.
Standing to the side, Third Prince Frey’s face went from green to pale and back again.
Seeing them shrink back, William let out a cold snort.
“Move aside.”
This time, no one dared block him again.
The seven Legends silently stepped aside and opened a path.
The Palace Knights also lowered their swords and retreated, their eyes filled with apprehension.
Protected by Aganzo and the other two, William walked forward step by step through the crowd, heading toward the gates of the Quiet Reflection Palace.